Following the shocking announcement of Rev. Bishop Michael Osei Bonsu’s death last Friday at the Ridge Hospital in Accra, members of the United Gospel Musicians Association (UGMA) have emerged to express their great loss.

“He was a friend, an inspiration and a mentor to most of the young gospel musicians coming up. We have lost a great father.” said Andy Frimpong-Manso who is the Public Relations Officer of UGMA.

According to him, he and other members of the association “felt the big blow” of their loss when they were informed of his death that fateful Friday evening around 5pm following a protracted illness which had reportedly been with him for a long time.

Andy told this writer that he was initially informed on 1st July that the Bishop’s sickness had become worse and he had therefore been taken to the Ridge Hospital where he was positively responding to treatment. “I was informed that he was doing well and could normally talk during the week but then again, it became worse on Friday morning”.

According to sources, Bishop Bonsu could neither talk nor move normally on that Friday morning and that was when people around realized he was “going off”. As at the time of writing this report, an autopsy was yet to be done to know the cause of death.

However, many indications show that the Bishop might have died as a result of an allegedly serious infection which has been reportedly hidden in his head for years and brought him incessant cold and nasal problems. This sickness became serious in the middle of 2006 and had rendered the Bishop inactive for months until his death.

His mysterious illness had been the premises for the generation of many allegations and controversies ranging from sensitive scandals to a feud over financial issues between him (the Bishop) and Pastor Love Hammond, husband of gospel diva Christiana Love.

“We should not be quick to judge him or point accusing fingers at anyone. Judgment lies in the hands of God and no one should dare step on God’s toes. For now, no one knows the cause of his death and it is dangerous to speculate” Andy said.

Rev. Bishop Osei Bonsu was a gospel musician and the founder of Back To God Church in Accra. He had over 70 hit tracks to his credit and was well known for the playing of the accordion. He started his music career over 30 years ago when he used to preach and sing on the streets of Accra.

A foreign woman saw his musical potential and decided to take care of him. She bought him an accordion to help him in his evangelistic work which he continued to do on the streets, market places and in buses until he released his maiden album. Apart from the numerous albums he had, his music career also took him to many parts of the world.

He was set to help some up and coming gospel musicians when death laid its icy hands on him. He left behind five children namely Michael (Snr), Gabriel, Priscilla, Emmanuel and Michael (Jnr) plus an Ivorian boy he was taking care of who is called Nino.